Conveyer



CONVEYER Filed- Dec. 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Nov. 14, 1939 e. N. MEYER I 2380,2344.

CONVEYER Filed Dec. 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- I 4 I J XI i I 46 1* i 4/ Fm Patented Nov. 14,1939

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE I oonvariza George L. N. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis. Application December 9, 1936.8erial-No. 114,899

' reclaims, (c1. lea-2'0 This invention relates to conveyers and takeoff mechanisms.

One object of the present invention is to provide a conveyer plate which will hold and transport a large number of, containers of various sizes across the width of the conveyer. Another object is to provide a conveyer plate which will readily permit the simultaneous discharge of various types of, containers throughout the width of the conveyer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyer plate which will be strong and durable.

Another object is to reduce the cost of conveyer plates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new method of forming conveyer plates.

A further object is to provide a take-ofi mechanism which willautomatically adjust itself to irregularities of the conveyer plates.

25 which will carry both the normal number of containers being 22118188.

Other objects will become apparent upon'consideration of, the following specification, which 30 describes the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. a

In the drawings: Fig.1 is a pian view of a part of a conveyer embodying the invention; 7

' Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of: 8. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the conveyer showing .the carrier'ehains;

Fig. .4 is 'a viewof the conveyer discharged afid overload disate before is formed; mm. 5 is a cross-section-on thejline 5-5 of 6; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the finished con- 45 veyer plate;

Fig. 'I is a plan view oi the carrier chain; Fig. 8 is a side elevationof the'carrier chain,

,- with the conveyer plates shown in dotted lin'esf Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of the 50 conveyer plate; I

" Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the conveyer plate shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a cross-section on the line llll of Fig. 10; p

55 m. 12 is a second modified form of conveyer A further object is to provide a take-oil? plate plate, and is a cross-section on the line l2-i2 of Fig.- 13; andv Fig. 13is a side elevation of the conveyer plate shown in Fig-12.

Referringto the drawings, in which like nu- 5 merals designate like parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, conveyer plates 20 are mounted on a plurality of conveyer chains 2!, to be described below... The chains 2| ride on tracks 22 which 10- run throughout the length of the machine, and guide the chains to sprocket wheels 23 which drive the conveyer and direct the plates 20 around the wheels 23 to the return flight (not shown).

The conveyer unit is preferably made from a fiat sheet or plate 25, shown in Fig. 4, in which elongated. apertures 26 are punched.- The outer edges of the plate 25 may then be bent along, the iines 21 and 28 to a position substantially atright angles to the body ofthe plate, as shown in Fig. 5. This forms a channel-shaped conveyer plate with slots 29 cut transversely across the tops'of the channel, and extending into the adjacent portion of the legs of the channel.

As seen in Figs, 2, 5 and 6, the conveyer units have plates fixed across the open .ends ofthe channel legs which form both a reinforcement for the channel and a means to .fasten the channels to the conveyer chains 2|.

The chains 2| which are best shown in Figs. 3 -7 and 8 are made with links 40-40 and 4l4l' each of which have ears 43 formed thereon which extend outwardly to engage the lower faces 'of the plates .35. The ears 48 and the plates 35 are fastened together by carriagebolts 45 with suit- 5 able lock washers placed under the nuts to pre ventthe nuts from loosening. The links and 4| are pivoted to each other with wheels 46 mounted at the pivoted Joints, as'shown.

v A second type of conveyer plate 41 which may 40 be used satisfactorily is shown in Figs. 9, l0 and Y 11. The plate may be formed by corrugating a piece of flat sheet metal and bending down the outer edges 48 to form the legs of a substantially channel-shaped conveyer plate. tions onthe top of the plate form slots 49 run-' ning transversely across the plate which correspond to the slots 29 of Figs. Sand 6. Reinforcing plates 50 are fastened to the interior of the legs 48 and complete the legs and form a reinforcing-for the plate. The conveyer plates 41 are fastened to the chains 2! thtough plates 5|, formed on the lower end of the legs 48, which correspond to the.plate s 25 inFigs. 5 and 6.

An alternateform oi' =conveyer unit isshown-tt The corruga- 4g.

in Figs. i2-and i3 which comprises a casting if, having. slots '3 across it, which I! similar to the Plate II in F188. 5 and 6.

Of the three conveyer unit constructions disclosedthetypeshowninFigsLBandGistobe.

preferred due to its economy of construction and ease of manufacture. This type of unit has therefore been shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3 although it is to be understood that the other types of conveyer units may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, the take-oi! mechanism comprises a-plurality of flat take-oil plates or aprons 80, which have ribs 6| attached to the under side thereof so positioned as to project into the slots 29 of the conveyer units.

The ends of the ribs are tapered so as to form fingers 62 the outer ends of which lie below the upper surface of the plates II. The fingers taper upwardly to the upper surface of the plate III to guide the containers being discharged from the conveyer onto the plate".

The plates 60 are supported at one end by a bracket 63 on the frame of the machine and the opposite end rides freely on the upper surface of the conveyer units.

Pins fit loosely in holes in the bracket BI and permit limited pivotal movement of the outer end of the take-oi! plate 80 and so allows that end to rise or fall slightly to accommodate any irregularities in the elevation of the conveyer. The provision of a plurality of take-oil. plates or aprons il permits the individual plates to adjust themselves to the irregularities of the conveyer plates.

Containers delivered from the conveyer units to the take-off plates 60 are -moved across the take-off plates by the pressure of subsequent containers delivered from the conveyer, and pass on to a transverse conveyer which transports the containers to other points on the line. A second transverse conveyer 61 runs parallel to and immediately adjacent the conveyer 68 and receives the surplus containers which the conveyer I6 is unable to accommodate.

A shelf as is formed on the outside of we con-- veyer 61 to receive any containers which may be displaced from the conveyer l1- Containers so. displaced are loaded back onto the conveyers it or 61 by an attendant stationed at that end of the machine. v

Having thus described the invention it is obvious that it issusceptible-to various changes and modifications and it is not, therefore, desired to limit the invention to the precise form herein -.shown and described but onlyby the scope of and desired to secure character a the appended claims.

What is claimed as new by Letters Patent is:

'L-In a machine of the r'frame, a fiat conveyer surface comprising a pinrality of conveyer plates mounted in said frame" each plate having a plurality ofslots thereacross,

saidconveyer being adapted to convey containers through said-machine, a take-off plate supported to oi! the 75 .at one end thereof on the frame andsupported at" the other endion the top of the conveyer and fingere depending, from said plate. into said slots therein running longitudinally of the conveyer.

- frame, awonveyer mounted in said frame. said formed on'the under side of said take-off plate extendinginto said slots, and

frame, a flat conveyer surface comprising a plurality of conveyer plates, each plate having slots said conveyer being adapted to convey containers through said machine, a take-oil plate sup- 6 ported atone end onsaid frameand supported at the other end on'said conveyer, and ribs of less depth than the slots on the lower side of the take-oil! plate, said ribs fitting in said slots to form guides to direct containers from the conveyer onto the take-oil plate.

3. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a fiat conveyer surface comprising a plurality of conveyer plates, each plate having a plurality of slots therein running longitudinally "1d --of said conveyer, a take-oil plate supported at one end on said frame and supported at the other end on said conveyer, ribs formed on the under side of said take-ofi' plate extending into said slots, and fingers on the end of the ribs adjacentm the conveyer, said'fingers tapering from thetop of the plate outwardly to beneath the conveyer surface todirect containers from the conveyer onto the take-off plate.

4. In a device of the character described, a

conveyer comprising a plurality of substantially channel-shaped members, each member having slots thereacross parallel to the direction 1 of movement of the conveyer, a plurality of takeoff plates supported from said frame at one end and on the conveyer at the opposite end, and a plurality of fingers on each of said take-off plates depending into said slots.

5. In a machine 'ofthe character described, a frame, a fiat conveyer surface comprising a plurality of'conveyer plates mounted in said frame, each plate having a plurality of slots thereacross, said conveyer being adapted to convey containers through said machine, a take-off plate pivotally connected at one end thereof to the-frame and supported atithe other end on the top of the conveyer and fingers depending from said plate and into said slots to guide containers 0! the conveyer and onto said plate.

r 6. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a fiat conveyer surface comprising a plurality of conveyer plates, each plate having slots thereim running longitudinally of the conveyer, said conveyer being adapted to convey containers. through said machine. a take-off plate pivotally connected at one end .thereof to said frame and supported at the otherend-on said conveyer, and ribs of less depth than the slots on the lower side of the take-off plate, said ribs fitting in said 55 slots to form guides'to direct containers from the conveyer onto the take oif plate.

7.In a. machine of the character described a frame, a flat conveyer surface comprising a,plurality of conveyer plates, each plate having a plurality of slots therein running longitudinally of said conveyer, a take-oil plate pivotaliy connected at one end thereof to said frame and supported at the other end on said conveyer, ribs fingers on the end of the ribs adjacent the conveyer,.,said fingers tapering fromthe top of the plate outwardly to beneath the conveyer surface to direct containers from the conveyer onto the take-oi! plate.- 10 -8. In a deviceof the character described, a

frame, a conveyermounted in'said frame, said conveyer, comprising a plurality-of substantially channel-shaped members, each member having slots parallel to the direction of" I frame having a plurality of apertures therein, a

movement of the conveyer, a plurality of take-off plates pivotally connected at one end thereof to said frame and supported on the conveyer at the opposite end, and a plurality of fingers on each of said take-off plates depending into said slots.

9. In a device' of the character described, a

conveyer mounted in said frame, a take-ofi plate supported between the frame and the conveyer, and pins on said take-off plate engageable with said apertures to form a pivotal connection between the take-off plate and the frame.

10. In a pasteurizer of the character described, a frame having a plurality of apertures therein, a conveyer mounted in said frame and adapted to carry containers through said pasteurizer, a plurality of take-01f plates .supported between said frame and said conveyer, and a plurality of pins on each of said take-off platesengageable in said apertures to form a pivotal connection between the take-off plate and the frame.

11. In a device of the character described, a

frame, a conveyer mounted to travel longltu-' dinally through said frame, a second conveyer mounted in said frame and moving transversely thereto, a third conveyer mounted in said frame and parallel to said second conveyer, and a plurality of perforated take-oft plates supported between the frame and said first named conveyer and adapted to receive containers from said first conveyer and deliver them onto said second and third conveyers,

12. A machine of the character described comprising, a frame, a fiat conveyer surface comprising a plurality of conveyer plates, each plate having slots therein running longitudinally of the conveyer, said conveyer being adapted to conveycontainers through said machine, a plurality of take-off plates extending across the width of said conveyer, and ribs, of less depth than the said slots, formed on the lower side of each of the take-off plates, said ribs fitting within said slots to form guides to direct containers from the conveyer onto the take-off plates.

13. In a device of the character described, -a frame, a conveyer mounted to travel longitudinally in said frame, said conveyer having a plurality of slots therein extending longitudinally of said frame, a second conveyer spaced from said first conveyer and movable transversely thereto, a plurality of perforated take-01f plates supported between the conveyers,a plurality of fingers formed on each take-off plate on the end. thereof adja-- cent said first. conveyer, said fingers extending into said slots and maintained above the bottom of said slots, said take-off plates and said fingers receiving containers from saidfirst conveyer and delivering the same to said second conveyer.

14. In a device of the character described,- a frame, a conveyer mounted to travel longitudinally in said frame, said conveyer having a plurality of slots therein extending longitudinally of said frame, a second conveyer spaced from said first conveyer and movable transversely thereto, a plurality of take-ofi plates supported between the conveyers, a plurality of fingers formed on each take-off plate on the end thereof adjacent said first conveyer, said fingers extending into said slots and maintained above the bottom of said slots, said take-01f plates and said fingers receiving containers from said first conveyer and delivering the same to said second conveyer.

15. A device of the character described comprising,.a frame, a conveyer mounted in said frame, and movablelongitudinally therethrough, said conveyer comprising a plurality of invertedv channel-shaped members each member having a plurality of slots thereacross parallel to the direction of movement of said conveyer, a plurality of take-01f plates supported from said frame, and a plurality of fingers formed on each of said take-ofi plates on the end thereof adjacent said conveyer, said fingers extending into and lying above the bottoms of said slots to receive containers from said conveyer and deliver the same onto said take-off plate.

16. A device of the character described com- 1 prising, a frame, a conveyer mounted-in said frame, and movable longitudinally therethrough,

said conveyer comprising a plurality of inverted channel-shaped members each member having a plurality of slots thereacross parallel tothe di-j rection of movement of said conveyer, a plurality of take-off plates supported from said frame, and

a plurality of fingers formed on each of said takebelow the tops of said grooves and the lowest point on said fingers being maintained above the bottoms of the grooves. r 1

l GEORGE L. N. 1mm. 

